Hannaford Cancels Vermont Executive Retreat; Action Planned for 10/15
Posted Sat, 10/10/2026 - 5:42pm
We recently announced a picket of Hannaford Supermarket’s upcoming corporate retreat in Stowe, VT. President Mike Vail and 150 top company executives had booked a luxury hotel and planned to spend three days amidst the state’s peak fall foliage. Farmworkers who labor twelve hours a day for below minimum wage and live in crowded, substandard housing planned to welcome the executives to Vermont by calling on the company to join the Milk with Dignity Program.
Rather than face farmworkers – the very workers responsible for keeping his stores’ shelves stocked – Hannaford president Mike Vail has decided to turn tail. Following the announcement of Migrant Justice’s planned action, the company has moved its retreat to an alternative location and canceled its reservation, losing a deposit likely worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Farmworkers are undeterred by the company’s cowardice. Hannaford execs may be too scared to face the facts, but workers and consumers remain united demanding Milk with Dignity. With the Vermont retreat canceled, farmworkers are calling for a store picket back at the South Burlington Hannaford where we recently celebrated the program anniversary.
Hannaford’s resistance to Milk with Dignity is costing the company dearly: from forfeited deposits from this week’s planned retreat, to the cost of hiring security at each farmworker action, to the reputational damage of the human rights violations in its supply chain. Time and again, Migrant Justice has documented how Hannaford’s sales plummet when farmworkers picket stores and consumers stay away. But apparently, the company has yet to get the message.
p.s. The planned art build at the Migrant Justice office, scheduled for Monday 10/12, is canceled. See you on the picket line on Thursday!